Dog Days & Neighborhood Ways: It’s July’s Fond Farewells, Friendly Hellos & Focus On The Future
In a time when the shore or mountains beckon, 4 businesses opened and 4 more joined our list of now 32 businesses – retail, restaurants and more – coming to our neighborhood.
July hit Rittenhouse like that friend who shows up to brunch in pajamas – light energy, but still bringing the good tea.
The dog days delivered exactly what they promised: a slower pace that still managed to pack some serious emotional punches. We’re processing some losses while cautiously eyeing what’s coming next – basically the neighborhood equivalent of that This Is Us episode where you’re crying but also weirdly hopeful.
The losses this month – The Raven Lounge closed its doors for good, the beautiful Arts Alliance building was damaged in a heartbreaking fire, and Sonny’s Cocktail Joint is taking what we’re desperately hoping is just a Friends-style “we were on a break” situation. And while we didn’t see a large volume of openings, we did get two new HIGHLY anticipated and gorgeous retail brands, a late late-night/early AM casual food place, and an intimate barbershop.
Pus, we got some previews of what’s ahead: movement on a residential project that’s been in development longer than most Netflix series runs, a restaurant announcement from some of our most beloved local chefs, a consignment store making the move to Walnut Street, plus more!
The latest updates at-a-glance:
- In Fond Farewells this month we noticed the closure of The Raven Lounge, lost the beautiful Arts Alliance building to a fire, while Sonny’s Cocktail Joint is out for a temporary hiatus (FINGERS CROSSED!)
- We may have not had the record new business openings (or reopenings – always great to welcome back an old friend!) but we are sending friendly hellos two new retail stores, one casual food place, and a barbershop.
- We weren’t expecting fireworks (literally or figuratively), but the neighborhood still managed to serve up some genuine surprises: a residential project long in the making, a new restaurant announcement from some of the most popular local chefs, a consignment store moving over to the super popular shopping street that is Walnut, a boutique med-spa, and a smoke shop.
We hope you have a chance to check out the deets below. And if we missed anything or you heard something, please let us know via email rittenhouseramblings@gmail.com or DM us – we appreciate you!
Fond Farewells:
Art Alliance Building
Earlier this month, the fire broke out at the former Art Alliance building (also known as the Weatherill Mansion) was still burning hours later. The Curtis Institute had been planning on using this gorgeous building for their students but sadly it’s now off the table. It looks like it will need to be a full renovation because the fire seems to have destroyed the floors and more. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Sending all our wishes for a full restoration (pretty please!) as it was absolutely gorgeous.
The Raven Lounge | 📍 251 S 18th St
The Raven Lounge aka “simply the best bar in the universe” and one that has long been part of the neighborhood (since 2007!) quietly closed its doors. The Raven was a genuine, down-to-earth bar that created fun memories and equally fun stories to share. RIP, you will be missed.
Fond Farewells for a Short Time:
Sonny’s Cocktail Joint 📍1508 South St
Talk about TERRIBLE luck: Sonny’s Cocktail Joint, the only (we believe) go-to place for hot dog towers (plus cocktails!) reopened after 3 YEARS in January, and got hit with a burst pipe or something similar. They are closed for what we’re hoping is a brief hiatus and we are sending them the best possible vibes to get back up and running stat! In the meantime, we will also be rooting for their other love, Wine Dive!
Soon-To-Be A Fond Farewell:
Shiroi Hana |📍222 S. 15th St
ETA for closure is still TBD for the owner of Shiroi Hana, a charming sushi and Japanese restaurant right next to Good Dog bar have the building up for sale as he plans to retire. Until then, we luckily still have them in the neighborhood!
Friendly Hellos:
15th Street Pizza & Cheesesteaks | 📍254 S 15th St
Open now for your night, late night, and very very late night food consideration is the super convenient 15th Street Pizza & Cheesesteak! It not only slid smoothly into the old Starbucks space that’s been empty for quite some time, but it’s also joining a lively strip of 15th Street near Cellar Dog Philly and Garage Bar.
The hearty offerings are exactly what you want from a local food joint and the hours – they’re open 5pm to 3am EVERY day (!!) – gives all late-nite owls a solid option for late night eats.
Abercrombie |📍1702 Walnut St
Abercrombie is BACK (in Philly) baby! And they did a great job with the space, cramming quite a bit in comfortably. If you remember the Vans store that was there previously, you know that the store is long, but somehow, it feels even longer (in a good way!) Abercrombie is also using the 2nd floor for the men’s clothing and it looks lovely, especially with the floor to ceiling windows overlooking Walnut Street.
Greyscale | 📍 1608 Latimer St
Greyscale, a “modern-day barbershop” from founder Vlad who has (or had) a barbershop in Highland Park, NJ is open right next to La Jefa. Moving smoothly into the former Commonweal Gallery space, it offers haircuts, shaves, and beard trims in an intimate space with (4) chairs.
Herman Miller |📍1615 Walnut St
The Herman Miller store is finally open on Walnut and it’s looking stellar! Fitting nicely into the ex- New Balance space that was next to the incoming Jordan World of Flight who hopped on to the OTHER side of it, Herman Miller has more furniture, accessories, and art than we had expected. It extends further back than New Balance had and offers an array of items including ones that you can take with you. You can also arrange for a private consultation via their website.
Focus on the Future:
2204 Walnut | 📍2204 Walnut St
It looks like, after a long period of hiatus, the new residential project at 2204 Walnut is FINALLY moving! Naked Philly, who has been long tracking its progress, shared “that the developers pulled a by-right zoning permit, which offers some indication of forward momentum after a couple years of radio silence.” and that it was pared down to 19, instead of the original 29, residential units.
ETA is likely 2027 (keeping our fingers crossed!)
Amma’s II |📍1500 Walnut St
Popular South Indian restaurant Amma’s on Chestnut Street has been planning to move into the old Max Brenner space on 15th street for quite some time now but it looks like things are moving! They had hoped to be open by now but, construction, you know? It’s a lovely and large space, plus they’ll have a liquor license so we can’t wait to have a masala dosa with a cocktail.
ETA is pending for Fall 2025.
Ayat |📍2021-23 Sansom St
The New York to Philly (and vice versa) love continues with the impending arrival of Ayat, a Palestinian restaurant, replacing the long-vacant Roxy Theatre space. This will be their seventh location and first for PA. They were hustling to try to get it open this summer but it may be more likely opening in the fall.
Banshee |📍1600 South St
Beloved Tio Flores may be gone, but its prime location didn’t stay empty for long. The Philly Inquirer announced that the team behind shuttered favorites Cheu Fishtown and Bing Bing Dim Sum has secured the lease. Their vision? Banshee, a bistro featuring clean Scandinavian design and an eclectic menu that defies easy categorization.
ETA is September!
Borromini |📍1809 Walnut St
Construction is almost done for Stephen Starr’s highly anticipated Italian restaurant on the Square in the former Barnes & Noble (RIP but please know, your sacrifice was not in vain). With an August debut on the horizon we are thisclose to having another fun and tasty option on the Square for great people-watching.
Botld Expansion |📍119 S. 18th St
Botld opening up in 2023 was pretty unique if you know how lovely PA’s liquor laws are. Botld has done pretty well and now they’re taking it to the next level with a planned cocktail bar in the back space. ETA is now 2026!
Cake & Joe |📍1735 Market St
Cake & Joe is slated to come to Market Street, offering a dessert option for a street that’s been hurting since the pandemic, because, WFH. Known for their gorgeous mousse desserts and drinks, this will be an intimate Cake & Joe store. We’ve reached out to them for an ETA so we’ll keep you posted!
Dance Robot | 📍1710 Sansom St
Getting a Japanese comfort food place to replace The Foodery (RIP) is great news, and even better with its snazzy new name, Dance Robot. However, hearing that it’s an offshoot from Royal Izakaya, one of the best chefs in the country, makes it even better. ETA is August so get ready!
Fashionphile | 📍 1616 Walnut St
A long, long time ago (2023, to be exact) the water damage resulting from putting out a car fire in the garage on Chancellor St, forced the CKO Kickboxing at 1616 Walnut St to close. Fast forward to this Fall: Fashionphile, the “high-end consignment boutique for secondhand luxury handbags & accessories in a stylish interior” will be moving in, right opposite Core Yoga.
Currently at 1617 JFK Blvd this will give the fashionistas a more convenient location to hit up while shopping on Walnut.
Friday Saturday Sunday Expansion | 📍 261 S 21st St
In super exciting news for everyone wants to but can’t easily get into Friday Saturday Sunday, news from The Inquirer announced that they’re buying the home behind them on Rittenhouse Square. Per the article, that’ll allow them to accommodate about 40-50 more people at what they’re saying will be a “higher-end chefs table.” ETA is next summer!
Harper 2.0 |📍113-119 S. 19th St
The OG Cavanaugh’s and other businesses on Sansom by 19th Street are long gone to make way for Pearl Properties‘ Harper 2.0. Completion is a LONG way off: at the current rate of construction, which is nil for the moment.
Joan Shepp |📍1905 Walnut St
Don’t call it a comeback, but…the high-end fashion boutique Joan Shepp is making her fashionable way back to Walnut St, after having done a pretty long stint at 1811 Chestnut. ETA is September!
Jordan Brand’s World of Flight |📍1617 Walnut St
It feels like FOREVER since Nike announced that the first US “World of Flight” experiential retail store – a trend we’ve been seeing manifest itself here on Walnut Street – was coming to this gorgeous townhome. Based on our construction tracking here we’re really, really, really hopeful that 2025 is still in play because the crews are hard at work every day.
Libbie Loup Hospitality Restaurant |📍2227 Pine St
ANDDDDD we finally have what likely will be a new fave restaurant to replace the old local fave that closed in 2024, Cotoletta per the Business Journal: A new concept from Her Place Supper Club and My Loup’s owners Amanda Shulman and Alex Kemp aka Libbie Loup Hospitality! The Business Journal notes it may be late 2025 so we’ll send out the good vibes!
Liquorette |📍1534 Sansom St
Sometimes, when you plan to launch a “quirky wine bar” aka the lovely Wine Dive on the first floor, you may also plan to launch a bar bar on the second floor that’s a “high-end, technique-driven cocktail bar that’s inspired by luxury European cocktail bars.” ETA is late 2025, even possibly 2026 as the owners are focused on launching Wine Dive and reopening Sonny’s Cocktail Joint.
Lululemon Expansion | 📍1718 Walnut St
Not only are new businesses arriving, and some shifting into larger spaces, we’re now also seeing the beginning of what may be a new trend: expansion! And setting the way is none other than Lululemon whose landlord, according to the Business Journal, is actively engaged in helping us get some extra Lululemon love by allowing next-door neighbor Indochino to exit their lease early AND helped find them their new digs at 1519 Walnut St aka the former home to Bonobos. ETA is 2026 should this be the plan.
Madis Coffee Roasters | 📍1441 Chestnut St
Madis Coffee Roasters announced last year that they were expanding to this side of the Schuylkill with 2 locations: one of them is planned for the corner of 15th and Chestnut, at the base of The Element Hotel, which has never been occupied. ETA is still 2025 per last we heard!
McDonald’s |📍1604 Chestnut St
In a highly anticipated comeback story, McDonald‘s is returning to the neighborhood. Only this time, it’ll be on Chestnut Street, replacing the old Portabella that moved into bigger, nicer digs just the next block over. Permits and zoning notices are up on the building but we’re thinking we won’t have some McNuggets to nibble on until late 2026.
Mitchell & Ness | 📍1513 Walnut St
In yet another example of one business taking over the lease of another, one of our favorite sports stores, Mitchell & Ness, is moving into the former Brooks Brothers (RIP). This is a much larger, bi-level space which gives them plenty of room to give us even more of want we want – more sweet sports merch. ETA is likely 2026, right? Right?
Mr. Edison |📍 200 S Broad St
The Bellevue‘s return to being the Grand Dame includes a brand new restaurant, Mr. Edison from famous restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow. It’s sliding into the former Polo store on Walnut and keep Flight Club Darts, which is across the street, company. ETA is 2026.
Prime Tobacco Zone |📍124 S 16th St
Coming soon (we’re taking their sign literally and holding them to it) is Prime Tobacco Zone next to Joe’s Pizza on 16th Street. For a hot moment that space was home to an artisan luxury goods collective called The Narrative after long-time tenant Sun Myst Tanning Spa left.
Rhythm & Spirits |📍1617 JFK Blvd
If you’ve ever been to the Rhythm & Spirits in AC, well, you’re in luck as it’s making its way over to the former Classic Cake Cafe in Suburban Station! Rhythm & Spirits Philly will be similar, i.e., food with no rules, live music, and best of all – brunch! Their opening ETA? August!
Sev | 📍1525 Chestnut St
Moving into the space right next to the Five Guys Burger and Fries that may have been on Chestnut since the prior decade is Sev. A boutique med-spa with locations throughout the country and the closest one to here in Fishtown, it’s moving into the Pomerantz building that has been vacant for over 18 years (!!). At one time it was being considred for the location of a boutique hotel, so a boutique med-spa is very fitting! We reached out to them for an ETA but construction is moving along!
Stephen Starr’s 3rd Restaurant on the Square | 📍225 S. 18th St
As Borromini preps for its day in the sun, Stephen Starr is turning his attention (and stellar crew, we’re sure) to the former Devon Seafood space. And if you ever had the chance to go to Devon, you probably remember the beautiful arches, the ceiling print, the tiles, and the expansive space in the back, down the steps – it was a story and vibe in itself. The name is NOT confirmed but the concept is rumored to be Japanese or seafood.
ETA is 2026!
Taco Bell |📍1614 Chestnut St
It might be no Más on the Cantina but hey, we are getting our first Taco Bell! What’s not to love? Construction progressed VERY nicely so get ready to live más in early August!
Tacodelphia |📍2051 Walnut St
Fellow Rittenhouse rambler jessierose1 tipped us off that a new food place was coming to the former Chase location at 21st and Walnut, which Philly_junebug confirmed was Tacodelphia, a fast-casual restaurant formerly known in the area as Illegal Tacos. The ETA was 2025, but after a flurry of construction things stopped so hoping it gets back on track.
Teddy Sourias Project | 📍 1515 Market St
Teddy Sourias, the founder of Craft Concepts Group, who has many restaurants you’d recognize in Center City, including Uptown Beer Garden, was planning a Japanese-inspired restaurant at 1515 Market that included a 4,000-square-foot patio. ETA and new news is TBD.
Time Mission | 📍 1534 Chestnut St
Time Mission, a social gaming experience where teams travel “through time to save the future,” is joining Sandbox VR to give us two experiential options in the neighborhood! Per a review of the Cali one:
“At Time Mission, each new portal took us to a different destination with a new challenge to solve together as a team. This over-world tied together a collection of artistic, unusual rooms filled with creative contraptions or other physical or mental playgrounds.”
Time Mission will live above JD Sports, which used to be a 2-level H&M. ETA is still 2025.
Uchi | 📍 1620 Sansom St
The award-winning, Austin-based restaurant Uchi is coming to the Josephine, and construction is moving (albeit slowly in this insane heat). Their Miami and other locations look stunning, and they’ve hired the same designers whose creativity can be seen at Schulson’s restaurants. ETA is late 2025!
Unnamed Diner | 📍1526 Sansom St
Upon Glu Hospitality’s closing of Bagel & Co and Chika Ramen, No Name Hospitality snapped up the leases. With Bagel & Co now Shay’s Steaks and More, we’re now just waiting to see who moves into the ex-Chika Ramen restaurant that’ll apparently be an “old-school” diner open until 3am on the weekends, joining a growing number of desired late late-night/early morning options in the neighborhood. ETA is this year!
Unnamed Italian Bakery @The Josephine | 📍1620 Sansom St
Good news: Every commercial space within The Josephine is taken! And next to the incredible-sounding Uchi will be a Philly-based Italian bakery, which will continue to make Sansom between 16th and 17th pretty awesome. ETA was this year so hoping we hear (or see) something soon!
Unnamed Sports Bar @The Josephine | 📍1620 Sansom St
LET’S GO SPORTS BAR! Apparently, the entire 2nd floor of The Josephine will be a known-brand name sports bar. ETA was this year although we haven’t heard anything about it recently so keeping our fingers crossed for something super exciting!
Unnamed Residential Project | 📍26 S. 21st St
The recent project added to the residential construction projects in (slow) progress: A 200-luxury apartment building is being planned for a current parking lot, and:
The project would be outfitted with underground parking, a second-story restaurant with an outdoor patio, and a 16,000-square-foot ground-floor retail space, which they anticipate attracting a national retailer. There’s no current ETA but they were planning to break ground in 2025.
WineDive | 📍1534 Sansom St
It’d been a while since we had any new updates on the quirky wine bar that was coming to the former Nails by Anna D space, so we were getting a tiny bit worried. But thanks to Wooder Ice we’re not worried anymore because Wine Dive itself is moving from South St. And, as you can see from their recent story, it’s looking like the kind of dive you’d love to drink wine at. ETA is September!
Wonder | 📍1600 Chestnut St
Finally, something more valuable than a bank is opening in a former bank space! Wonder, a unique and buzzy food delivery, takeout + dine-in brand, is coming to town. ETA is September and we’re tracking its progress here.
Know of anything else coming or in the works? Shoot us an email at rittenhouseramblings@gmail.com so we can watch their progress together!
